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15 Coming home one day I saw a gentleman - busy guiding a scorpion on the walk with the heel of his boot. He enpressed his aversion strongly. Never having seen this animal before - I picked him up on a stick and carried him home for examination. the natives as I passed seemed greatly surprised - and exclaimed - "mucho malo - mucho malo". They undered me doubt what fancy I should have conceived for so detestable an object. These scorpions are plenty - among the old walls and ruins of the city - men seldom are bitten - but such is the severity of their poison that they are looked upon with abhorrence. I have always had a dread of tropical climes on account of their numerous insects. We were not troubled much on the Isthmus - indeed I paid no attention to them whatever. At Gorgina - the wood tick was the only thing that attacked us. These I did not notice till one day going to bathe I discovered eight or ten of them on my companion. They bury themselves in the skin - head and legs - and acquire considerable skill to pick them out without dismemberment. I picked my friend when he in his turn picked me. These ticks gave us no annoyance - except feeling uncomfortable after knowing they were upon us. The chigre is common. I saw one man pick several sacks of eggs from his feet. They are not annoying if attended to in [?]. There is a species of lizzard very common - dark colored and lively. These are seen darting among the shrubs and rocks with great activity. They are perfectly harmless. Although at first I disliked them - I soon liked to observe the spry fellows - especially when I learned the useful purpose they served in destroying the numerous swarms of small insects. Whatever abhorence the poisonous and annoying insects of tropical countries may be held in - there is no greater curse of pest in the whole insect tribe that will compare with the mosquitoe. Against all others there is some prospect of alliance - agaist these now. They are neither to be excaped by care - vigilance - or art. In spite of everything they still sing - their hateful song in your ear - or plunge their bills into your flesh. Luckily at Panama - the sea breezes kept them out of town.